Hanged boy 'obsessed' by fire safety

Paddy Connors was concerned about safety

A teenager found hanged by a rope at home was "obsessed" by protecting his family during firefighters' strikes and practiced escape drills, relatives said.

Before his death, Paddy Connors, 15, of Colwyn Bay, had been learning to abseil so he could rescue relatives from a house fire, according to his sister.

Mary Connors told BBC Wales he had bought a rope to plan an escape from the middle floor of the family's three-storey home during recent walkouts by Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) members, which left reduced cover.

A coroner has yet to determine how Paddy died. An inquest opened on Monday and was adjourned to the New Year.

'Abseil rope'

The incident happened on the night of Thursday, December 5.

At the time, a third bout of industrial action by firefighters in their pay dispute was suspended,

Ms Connors said her brother had bought a rope to practice abseiling an escape from the house.

He said if the middle floor caught fire, we wouldn't get off the top floor

Mary Connors, sister

"He was going mental because we had no fire escape," she said.

"He said if the middle floor caught fire, we wouldn't get off the top floor. He was worried."

Mr Connors was later found hanged by the rope.

He was resuscitated by paramedics but died en route to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

Strike cover

Army and Royal Air Force personnel were called to almost 80 fires in north Wales during the second strike, from November 22 to 30.

But the UK Government praised their efforts, saying the reduction in professional fire cover and the number of injuries had not been as drastic as expected.

The FBU was seeking a 40% pay rise, but ministers said anything over 4% must be paid for through modernisation of the fire service.

Further industrial action is planned for December 16 to 24 and for January, February and March.